R-f matrix switch line with integral stub disconnect



Oct. 12, 1965 F. w JOHNSON 3,211,847

H-l" MATRIX SWITCH L-JNH Wl'l'll INTEGRAL STUD IHSGONNI'JUI Film] Supt.18, 1065 2 Shouts-Shout l INVI N'H )R.

FREDERICK W. JOHNSON BY 7' I A T TORNE Y Oct. 12, 1965 F. w. JOHNSON R-FMATRIX SWITCH LINE WITH INTEGRAL STUB DISGONNECT Filed Sept. 18, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 2 4 w Ii w w .rx 2 2 k w INVENTOR.

FREDERICK w JOHNSON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,211,847 R-F MATRIXSWITCH LINE WITH INTEGRAL STUB DISCGNNEQT Frederick W. Johnson, CedarRapids, Iowa, assignor to Collins Radio Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 21corporation of Iowa Filed Sept. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 309,702 7 Claims.'(Cl. 200-) This invention relates in general to coaxial wave guideswitches, and in particular to a bayonet-type switch which is capable ofconnecting crossing wave guides while simultaneously disconnectingunused stubs of the wave guides.

It is oftentimes desirable to connect a first wave guide to a secondwave guide. At times matrices comprising a first plurality of waveguides lying in a first plane are to be selectively connected to one ofa second plurality of wave guides lying in a second plane. It isdesirable to prevent radiation and spurious responses to disconnect theunused stub portions of the wave guides after the connections are made.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a bayonet-typeswitch in which the unused portions of the wave guides are disconnectedwhen the switch is closed.

Further objects, features, and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description and claims when read in view ofthe drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of two matrices of wave guides lying indifferent planes which cross adjacent each other and which are to beselectively connected by bayonet switches according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 illustrates one of the bayonet switches of this invention withthe switch in the closed position;

FIGURE 3 illustrates one of the bayonet switches according to thisinvention with the switch in the open position, and;

FIGURE 4 illustrates a partial cutaway view of a bayonet switchaccording to this invention in the closed position.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a base plate which supports a holding plate 11formed with horizontal grooves 12 in which are mounted a plurality ofsquare wave guides 13. The wave guides 13 are formed with outerconductors 14 and inner conductors 16. The wave guides fit in grooves12. A number of vertical grooves 17 are formed in holding plate 11, anda second plurality of square wave guides 18 are received in them. Thewave guides 18 comprise outer conductors 19 and center conductors 21.The holding plate 11 may be made of conducting material so as toelectrically connect the outer conductors 14 to the outer conductors 19.

A pair of guide plates 22 and 23 are also supported by plate 10 andslidably support plungers 24 which are provided with suitable knobs 26.A conducting bayonet member 27 is connected to the plunger 24 as bestshown in FIGURE 2. The end of the bayonet 27 is sharpened to form apoint 28.

The center conductors 16 are formed of a plurality of sections 29 whichare receivable between jaws 31 and 32. Likewise, the vertical waveguides consist of a plurality of sections 33 connected to jaws 34 and36. The ends 35 are received between Contact points 37 and 38,respectively, which are attached to the jaws 34 and 36. Likewise, theends 30 of members 29 are clamped by contact points 39 and 41 which areattached to the jaws 31 and 32, respectively. The bayonet 27 forces jaws34 and 36, and 31 and 32 apart by passing through crescent-shapedmembers 42 and 43 attached to jaws 36 and 34, respectively, andcrescent-shaped members 44 and 46 attached to jaws 31 and 32,respectively. Thus, in the closed position with the bayonet 27 inengagement with crescent members 42, 43, 44 and 46, electrical contactis made between the center conductors 16 and 21. The stub portions ofthe center conductors are disengaged from the center conductors due tothe opening of jaws 31 and 32, and 34 and 36.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the switch in the open position with the bayonet 27removed from engagement with the center conductors 16 and 21. It is tobe noted that the jaws 34 and 36 make electrical contact with the end 35of the next portion 33, and the jaws 31 and 32 make electrical contactwith the end 30 of the next adjacent section 29 of the center conductor16.

FIGURE 4 is a partial cutway view illustrating a plunger 24 which isconnected to the bayonet 27 which has been moved to the closed positionby depressing the knob 26. The bayonet 27 forces jaws 34 and 36 apartand makes electrical contact between jaws 31 and 32 and jaws 34 and 36.Jaws 31 and 32 have been simultaneously forced apart. It is to be notedthat the center conductors are held in predetermined space relationshipwith the external conductors 14 and 19 by insulating spacer blocks 51and 52.

Thus, when the plungers 27 are out of wave guides 13 and 18 no crossconnection is made. Electrical continuity exists in all of thehorizontal wave guides, and there is no connection between a horizontaland a vertical wave guide. However, when one of the plungers 34 is movedto the left relative to the figures, the bayonet 27 makes an electricalconnection between the center conductors 16 and 21 at the pointcorresponding to the particular plunger moved. Simultaneously, thecenter conductors 16 and 21 are broken at the contact point so that theunused stubs are electrically disconnected from the circuit. Thus,electrical continuity exists between one of the wave guides 13 and oneof the wave guides 18 at the point of the depressed plunger.

It is seen that this invention provides a simple and effective switchfor coaxial wave guides and although it has been described with respectto a preferred embodiment thereof, it is not to be so limited, aschanges and modifications may be made therein which are within the fullintended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A switch comprising a first electrical conductor having a pair ofjaws between which are received a second electrical conductor, a thirdelectrical conductor lying in a different plane from the first twoconductors and formed with a pair of jaws, a fourth conductor receivablebetween the jaws of the third conductor, means supporting saidconductors, and a conducting plunger supported by the supporting meansand movable into engagement with the jaws of the first and thirdconductors to electricity connect them together while simultaneouslyspreading the jaws so as to electrically disconnect the first conductorfrom the second conductor and the third conductor from the fourthconductor.

2. A switch comprising supporting means insulatingly supporting a firstpair of conductors in axial alignment with each other and with one ofsaid conductors formed with a first pair of jaws which grasp the end ofthe other conductor, a second pair of conductors insulatingly supportedby said supporting member and lying in the same plane and with one ofthe second pair of conductors formed with a second pair of jaws betweenwhich the other of said pair of conductors is receivable, a conductingplunger supported by said supporting member and movable from a firstposition out of engagement with the jaws of the conductors to a secondposition into engagement with the jaws of said conductors so that saidplunger makes electrical contact between said first and second pairs ofjaws while simultaneously spreading said pairs of jaws.

3. A plurality of bayonet switches comprising a first plurality ofconductors lying in a first plane, a supporting member supporting saidplurality of conductors, a second plurality of conductors lying in asecond plane and supported by said supporting member closely adjacentthe first plurality of conductors, a plurality of bayonet switchesinsertable through openings in the supporting member, a plurality ofjaws formed in the first plurality of conductors which grasp portions ofthe conductors, a second plurality of jaws forming a part of the secondplurality of conductors for grasping portions of the second conductorsand said bayonet switches movable between the first and second jaws toelectrically connect said first and second plurality of conductors whilesimultaneously forcing the jaws apart.

4. In apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first and secondplurality .of conductors comprise the center conductors of coaxial waveguides in which the outer conductors of said coavial wave guides areelectrically connected together and the inner conductors of said coaxialwave guides are insulatingly supported by the outer conductors.

5. In apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first and secondplurality of jaws have inner portions and crescent-shaped members areattached to said inner portions to form camming surfaces for the bayonetswitches.

6. In apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the bayonet switches areformed with sharp points so as to engage camming surfaces of thecrescent-shaped member to open the jaws.

7. In apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first and secondplurality of jaws have inner portions and crescent-shaped members areattached to said inner portions to form camming surfaces for the bayonetswitches and wherein the bayonet switches are formed with sharp pointsso as to engage camming surfaces of said crescentshaped members to opensaid jaws.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,175,179 3/65Trump 33918 KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner.

3. A PLURALITY OF BAYONET SWITCHES COMPRISING A FIRST PLURALITY OFCONDUCTORS LYING IN A FIRST LANE, A SUPPORTING MEMBER SUPPORTING SAIDPLURALITY OF CONDUCTORS, A SECOND PLURALITY OF CONDUCTORS LYING IN ASECOND PLANE AND SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER CLOSELY ADJACENTTHE FIRST PLURALITY OF CONDUCTORS, A PLURALITY OF BAYONET SWITCHESINSERTABLE THROUGH OPENINGS IN THE SUPPORTING MEMBER, A PLURALITY OFJAWS FORMED IN THE FIRST PLURALITY OF CONDUCTORS WHICH GRASP PORTIONS OFTHE CONDUCTORS, A SECOND PLURALITY OF JAWS FORMING A PART OF THE SECONDPLURALITY OF CONDUCTORS FOR GRASPING PORTIONS OF THE SECOND CONDUCTORSAND SAID BAYONET SWITCHES MOVABLE BE-